WOW: Embrace of the Serpent (12A)

(Ciro Guerra, Colombia-Argentina-Venezuela 2015, 122 minutes, B&W, subtitles)

With a tone that recalls Apocalypse Now this presents a breathtaking journey through the Amazon from a native perspective that captures the extraordinary landscapes with a haunting sense of wonder. The last surviving member of his tribe, native shaman Karamakate leads the two interlocking stories of European travellers in search of a rare healing plant. Shot in mesmerising monochrome, the film’s rich visual texture, haunting mysticism and moral conviction makes for both a hypnotically beautiful ode to life in the Amazon and a searing critique of the harrowing effects of colonialism. A truly original and poetic cinematic experience this strikes a rare balance between documentary-style realism and dreamlike mysticism.